Peripatoides indigo

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Peripatoides indigo
Peripatoides indigo.jpg
Female P. indigo
Status NZTCS NU.svg
Naturally Uncommon (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Onychophora
Class: Udeonychophora
Order: Euonychophora
Family: Peripatopsidae
Genus: Peripatoides
Species:
P. indigo
Binomial name
Peripatoides indigo
Ruhberg, 1985

Peripatoides indigo, the indigo velvet worm, is a velvet worm of the family Peripatopsidae. [2] The Māori name for the velvet worm is ngaokeoke, from the Māori word 'ngaoki', to crawl. [3]

Contents

Description

The Peripatoides indigo can grow up to 9 cm long, and it has a deep blue/purple coloured velvety appearance - hence the common name of this group. This is due to the many tiny papillae present on their skin surface, which also have fine bristles. [3] [4] Its head bears two large antennae, and also a set of small oral papillae [4] which secrete jets of a paralytic slime used in stalking and hunting prey. It has 15 pairs of short legs, [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] which have a hook-shaped claw at the end. This genus also all have a hydrostatic skeleton, a muscular body filled with fluid similar to annelids, but also a chitinous exoskeleton, like the arthropods. Therefore, as the P. indigo continually grows, it must undergo ecydysis (moulting) every few weeks to enable this. [3] The many legs walking in co-ordination together can cover a distance of 200mm in about a minute, slow in comparison to species elsewhere [3] The velvet worms have simple eyes, however it is primarily just for detecting light rather than detailed sight - this is mainly used to determine whether it is night or day, enabling it to come out at night to avoid desiccation [3] P. indigo breathes through small pores in the side, called spiracles. These spiracles are usually able to be opened and closed in response to the environment both inside and outside the organism, but in the P. indigo this is not the case. [10] The spiracles are permanently open, therefore desiccation (drying out) is an issue – hence the P. indigo chooses damp, humid habitats underneath rocks and rotting logs. [9] [4]

Distribution and habitat

Peripatoides indigo has been found in the Nelson region at the top of the South Island, New Zealand. [10] Velvet worms are generally found in forested areas, however this species have also been observed in places such as urban parks, scrub areas and gardens. [10] The main habitat is within and under logs, under stones, and in leaf litter, as these are locations which are damp and humid, ideal for creatures which cannot control their moisture loss. [4] The P. indigo is also nocturnal, again to reduce fluid loss. [4] Males have been shown to 'scout' locations of new habitats, then emitting chemical signals to attract females. This enables females to conserve energy they could otherwise use in reproduction. [3] Peripatoides indigo is a predator, consuming other invertebrates such as beetle larvae, spiders, isopods and other litter insects. [10] They also consume soil for its nutrient content, and after moulting, eat its own shed skin to reduce wastage of nutrients. [4] These animals paralyse their prey by shooting jets of a glue-like slime from their oral papillae, rendering their prey immobile, and allowing them to get close enough to inject their digestive saliva into the organism and suck out the liquefied tissue. [9] [4] The New Zealand species of velvet worms can shoot this substance at a range of several centimeters, and also use this when defending themselves. [3] The P. indigo could be predated on by introduced birds, rats and the like, however, this cannot be known for sure, as there is no recorded observation of these events. [10]

Reproduction

Peripatoides indigo, like other species of the genus Peripatiodes, is ovoviviparous, meaning it lays eggs which hatch internally, and then give birth to live young. [9] P. indigo is estimated to have a lifespan of up to five years, and females can produce 10-20 offspring per year. [10] The males deposit a spermatophore on the females body, which she then absorbs. This then travels to the eggs, or is stored until it is needed. The eggs then hatch internally and the female gives birth to live young, which look like smaller versions of the adult. There is no record of parental care once the young are born, and the females may even eat its own young. [3]

Conservation

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [11] The species is also listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. [1] It is thought to be threatened mainly by habitat destruction - forest clearing, removing logs and rocks in which they live, or other events such as fires or over collection of species, particularly adult females. [10] [4] Other threats include predation, likely by introduced species (birds, rats etc.). [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onychophora</span> Phylum of velvet worms

Onychophora, commonly known as velvet worms or more ambiguously as peripatus, is a phylum of elongate, soft-bodied, many-legged panarthropods. In appearance they have variously been compared to worms with legs, caterpillars, and slugs. They prey upon other invertebrates, which they catch by ejecting an adhesive slime. Approximately 200 species of velvet worms have been described, although the true number of species is likely greater. The two extant families of velvet worms are Peripatidae and Peripatopsidae. They show a peculiar distribution, with the peripatids being predominantly equatorial and tropical, while the peripatopsids are all found south of the equator. It is the only phylum within Animalia that is wholly endemic to terrestrial environments, at least among extant members. Velvet worms are generally considered close relatives of the Arthropoda and Tardigrada, with which they form the proposed taxon Panarthropoda. This makes them of palaeontological interest, as they can help reconstruct the ancestral arthropod. In modern zoology they are particularly renowned for their curious mating behaviours and the bearing of live young in some species.

Opisthopatus roseus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. As traditionally defined, this species is rose pink with 18 pairs of legs. Known as the pink velvet worm, it is found only in the Weza Forest, a Mistbelt Forest in South Africa. Specimens have been found on the forest floor amongst leaf litter, beneath, and within fallen logs.

<i>Peripatoides</i> Genus of velvet worms

Peripatoides is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae, whose species are found in New Zealand. Like all velvet worms, these animals are nocturnal hunters that spit glue to trap their prey. Species of Peripatoides have 14, 15 or 16 pairs of legs. This genus exhibits lecithotrophic ovoviviparity; that is, mothers in this genus produce and retain yolky eggs in their uteri. The eggs are fertilized internally, and babies develop inside their mother until large enough to be born, in batches of 4-6, as colourless miniatures of the parents. These live-bearing Peripatoides have dermal-haemocoelic sperm transfer - which means sperm dissolve holes in the skin of the female to enter the body (haemolymph) anywhere on the body wall of the female.

Peripatoides suteri is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species is ovoviviparous, has 16 pairs of legs, and is endemic to New Zealand. These velvet worms range in size from 14 mm to 90 mm.

<i>Leucopatus</i> Genus and species of velvet worm

Leucopatus is a genus of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae, containing a single species, the blind velvet worm. It is found in northeast Tasmania, Australia, and is ovoviviparous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peripatidae</span> Family of velvet worms

Peripatidae is a family of velvet worms. The oldest putative representatives of the family herald from Burmese amber dated to the mid-Cretaceous, around 100 Ma, with representatives from Dominican and Baltic amber attesting to a broader distribution in the Palaeogene / Neogene; molecular variability suggests that the family's crown group may have arisen in the early Mesozoic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peripatopsidae</span> Family of velvet worms

Peripatopsidae is one of the two living velvet worm families.

<i>Occiperipatoides</i> Genus and species of velvet worm

Occiperipatoides is a monospecific genus of velvet worm containing the single species Occiperipatoides gilesii. This genus is ovoviviparous and found in Western Australia. The genus is part of the ancient phylum Onychophora that contains soft-bodied, many-legged relatives of arthropods known commonly as velvet worms.

<i>Ooperipatellus</i> Genus of velvet worms

Ooperipatellus is a genus of Australian and New Zealand velvet worms in the Peripatopsidae family. Species in this genus are oviparous. Most species in this genus have 14 pairs of legs, but O. nanus has only 13 pairs, which is the minimum number found in the phylum Onychophora. Velvet worms in this genus are among the smallest known, with adults often only 10 to 20 millimeters long. Morphological and molecular data indicate that this genus is a monophyletic group.

Metaperipatus is a genus of velvet worms in the family Peripatopsidae that includes the species Metaperipatus inae. Males of this species have 20 pairs of legs; females have 22 pairs. This species is a dark grayish blue in color, with large orange/red spots. When walking, females of this species can be as long as 85 mm, and males can be as long as 60 mm. The type locality is in central Chile.

Peripatoides kawekaensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species is ovoviviparous and has 15 pairs of legs. The type locality is in New Zealand's North Island.

<i>Peripatus juanensis</i> Species of velvet worm

Peripatus juanensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatidae family discovered in Puerto Rico in 1900. As of 2018, it is the only velvet worm found in Puerto Rico. Females of this species have 31 or 32 pairs of legs; males have 27.

Ooperipatellus insignis is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. Females of this species range from 5 mm to 39 mm in length, while males range from 4 mm to 30 mm in length. This species has 14 pairs of legs and is found in Victoria, Australia.

<i>Ooperipatellus nanus</i> Species of velvet worm

Ooperipatellus nanus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the South Island.

<i>Ooperipatellus viridimaculatus</i> Species of velvet worm

Ooperipatellus viridimaculatus is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species is oviparous, has 14 pairs of legs, ranges from 30 mm to 50 mm in length, and is brown or orange in color with two rows of green spots along its back. It is found in the South Island of New Zealand.

Ooperipatus oviparus is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. Females of this species range from 4 mm to 60 mm in length, whereas males range from 4 mm to 20 mm. This species lays eggs and has 15 pairs of legs with claws. It is found in Victoria, Australia.

Paraperipatus ceramensis is a species of velvet worm in the family Peripatopsidae. This species is grey-green with rust speckles. Females of this species have 21 or 22 pairs of legs and range from 13 mm to 55 mm in length. The type locality is in Seram, Indonesia.

Paraperipatus papuensis is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species is a pale greenish blue. Females of this species may have as few as 21 pairs of legs or as many as 29 pairs, exhibiting the greatest intraspecific variation in leg number found in any peripatopsid species. Males of this species range from 21 to 27 leg pairs. The maximum number of leg pairs recorded in this species (29) is also the maximum number of leg pairs found in the family Peripatopsidae. Females range from 22 mm to 83 mm in length, whereas males range from 19 mm to 45 mm. The type locality is in Western New Guinea, Indonesia.

Paraperipatus lorentzi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. This species is a dark green-blue. Females of this species have 22 to 28 pairs of legs; males have 21 or 22 pairs of legs. Whereas the original description of this species records 19 mm as the length of a male specimen, females range from 33 mm to 60 mm in length. The type locality is in Western New Guinea, Indonesia. The validity of this species is uncertain: Although some authorities deem P. lorentzi to be a junior synonym of P. papuensis, a similar species also found in Western New Guinea, others recognize them as two separate species.

<i>Peripatopsis moseleyi</i> Species of velvet worm

Peripatopsis moseleyi is a species of velvet worm in the Peripatopsidae family. Males of this species have 20 to 24 pairs of legs with claws ; females have 19 to 23 pairs of legs with claws. Females range from 11 mm to 75 mm in length, whereas males range from 9 mm to 50 mm. The type locality is in South Africa.

References

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  2. Oliveira, I.; Hering, L. & Mayer, G. "Updated Onychophora checklist". Onychophora Website. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ryan, Paddy (2 November 2015). "Story: Peripatus". Peripatus. Te Ara Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Massey University (15 September 2015). "Onychophora". Soil Bugs - An Illustrated Guide. Massey University. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. Ruhberg, Hilke (1985). Die Peripatopsidae (Onychophora) : Systematik, Ökologie, Chorologie und phylogenetische Aspekte (in German). Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart. ISBN   3-510-55023-4. OCLC   14872354.
  6. Tait, N.N.; Briscoe, D.A. (1995-05-01). "Genetic differentiation within New Zealand Onychophora and their relationships to the Australian fauna". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 114 (1): 103–113. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1995.tb00115.x. ISSN   0024-4082.
  7. Monge-Nájera, Julián (1994). "Reproductive trends, habitat type and body characteristcs in velvet worms (Onychophora)". Revista de Biología Tropical: 611–622. ISSN   2215-2075.
  8. Gleeson, Dianne M. (1996-01-01). "Onychophora of New Zealand; past, present and future". New Zealand Entomologist. 19 (1): 51–55. doi:10.1080/00779962.1996.9722023. ISSN   0077-9962.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Peripatus (Onchyphora)". Manaaki Whenua. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Department of Conservation. "Peripatus: A guide to New Zealand's velvet worms / ngaokeoke" (PDF). Department of Conservation. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  11. Trewick, Steve; Hitchmough, Rod; Rolfe, Jeremy; Stringer, Ian (2018). "Conservation status of New Zealand Onychophora ('peripatus' or velvet worm), 2018" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 26. Department of Conservation: 1–3. ISBN   9781988514703.